The Georgia Scroll
October 1998

President's Message

By: Lee Evins, FHFMA

Read this poem from Adlai Esteb, taken from the book Sandlewood, and see if there is a message for you. The poem is entitled Firepower.

Two eagles that flew,
In the brilliant blue,
Were blowing the breeze as they soared,
When a modern jet,
On a straight course set,
Shot past them as onward it roared.

One bird turned his head,
And then quickly said,
"I wish I could fly like that flier,"
The other said, "Good,
And maybe you could,
If you had two tails, both on fire."

The thought comes to me,
And I share it free,
We ALL could go faster and higher,
For we know it’s true,
Whatever we do,
We do so much more when on fire!

In conjunction with the Chapter’s theme, "I believe I can…" this poem conveys a powerful message. We each choose to be a leader or a follower. The Georgia Chapter of HFMA is in search of leaders, individuals who "believe the can…" and who are willing to turn on the after burners to achieve more than ever in their professional lives. If you are one who is riding the fence and undecided then this message is for you. Get off the fence and do something for yourself; do something for the Chapter. But you say, "What can I do?"

• Get Certified this year! There is no excuse good enough to hold you back. Certification sets one apart as advanced, knowledgeable, marketable. At the very least the process will expand how much you know about health care. Join the elite group (7%) of certified HFMA members. Call Greg Clark today and find out about Georgia HFMA’s certification loan library, which is needed to help you prepare for the examination. Greg’s number is (404) 842-2673.
• Write an article! The Scroll and the HFM Journal are always looking for quality material and our chapter is loaded with highly qualified individuals with a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Share the knowledge. Now is the time. Contact Judy Starkey; Scroll editor with your ideas today. Judy’s number is (800) 255-0953, extension 151.
• Become a Corporate Sponsor! The Georgia Chapter of HFMA is respected nationally because the Chapter provides a wide variety of high quality education in locations throughout the state. The Chapter also provides exceptional communications to our members in the form of the Hotline, the Scroll, and the Web Page. We also take time to have a little fun. Corporate sponsorships make the Chapter’s educational, networking and communications offerings possible. There is so much more which could be done. If your company is not yet a Corporate Sponsor, I urge you to join this very special group of friends of FHMA today. Call Eddie Phillips for more information. Eddie’s number is (404) 817-5597.
• Get a new member to join! If the Georgia Chapter is benefiting you, don’t you want to share those benefits with someone else? Call Bill Eikost now and find out how you can encourage others to join. Bill’s number is (770) 919-1117.
• Become a TEAM member! Only about 11 percent of the membership of the Georgia Chapter of HFMA are involved in positions of service to the Chapter. Can you even imagine the pool of great ideas that lies dormant within our membership? Call me today and ask how you can serve. My number is (706) 481-7487.
• Step into a leadership position! Do you desire to progress within the organization into a position of leadership? There is only a handful of members who voices their desires and demonstrates their commitment to becoming committee co-chairs, chairs, board members, etc. Commitment is the operative word. If you are committed to the long haul, committed to service to the Chapter, then please let it be known to a current board member or officer. Ideally, contact this year’s chair of the Nomination Committee, Pat Hamby, and express your opinions. Pat’s number is (770) 668-1433, extension 1433.
• Just do it! If I may be so bold as to borrow this cliché from NIKE, Just do it! Make sure the job you agreed to gets done and done well. If you are already on a TEAM and have made a commitment to assist, Just do it! Some individuals agree to serve and then are less than helpful and committed. Remember the story about EVERYBODY thought ANYBODY or SOMEBODY would do the work but NOBODY did. If you agreed to be a leader then lead.
• Come to an institute or workshop! If you are one of the 1,000 or so Georgia members of HFMA, receive the HFM Journal and the Scroll, and never or rarely attend an education session, it is time for you to get more involved. The program personnel for the Chapter are ding a fantastic job of providing very high quality educational offerings. In addition, at the institutes we also give you an opportunity to let your hair down and have some serious fun at our networking events. Healthcare is changing so rapidly; one must keep constantly in touch with developments and improving their knowledge base or run the risk of being left behind. Make the commitment today to attend the next institute or workshop. Note the Fall Institute is in Savannah at the Hyatt, November 2-4. Be there! Reserve you room today. Call (912) 238-1234.

What can you do? A lot! As first step, though, you must believe in yourself and your potential. Say to yourself, "I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky. Think about it every night and day, spread my wings and fly away". (R. Kelly) Believe it and you can achieve it! Get fired up about getting more involved, about bettering your knowledge level. It is true, "we could all go (fly) faster and higher, if we had two tails, both on fire".

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Last modified: June 22, 2001